"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Oh Where Oh Where is our TA ... Oh Where Oh Where Can it be?

Well this is the question of every minute of every day that is running through my mind. Everytime the phone rings I wonder, "Is this the call?" I know it sounds crazy, but that is just how I am feeling right now. We are just waiting on our TA and then we can travel to meet our little sweetheart. We are soooo ready! Her room is ready, we have all of the paperwork ready, we have bought most of the gifts to take, and we have a good start on the little things that we need to buy to take with us. Don't get me wrong, I am sure that we will be scrambling when that call comes, but bring it on, I am ready!We have thought all along that we would be taking Aidan with us. Well, we are not so sure now. China is placing people in quarantine if they are in close proximity to someone who test positive for the flu. We are not nervous about the potential to be quarantined. We are nervous though that if one of us comes down with the flu, that Aidan will be separated from us. Officials are taking this VERY seriously there and even though we see this as just the flu, they do not. At this point, we don't want to take the risk of him being separated from us. This breaks my heart and his because he has been so excited to go. But ... things could change before we travel and we may change our minds again. Please pray that we get our TA soon. Please pray that everything related to the flu calms down. Please pray for peace for us while we wait. And please pray that God continues to wrap his loving arms around Isabella and her wonderful foster family.We KNOW God's time is perfect and we trust in that. This is the verse that spoke to me while we were trying to decide whether or not to say yes to Isabella's referral and the one that has given me hope and peace throughout this journey. Proverbs 3: 5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.

God's timing is so right. It took our LOA sooo long to get to us but the timing was so right. I was able to take off twelve weeks from work which took me exactly to the day to summer break - I am a teacher. How perfect.

The Fam

Welcome

Welcome to our blog. We are the Garland family. Michael, Heather, Aidan (12), Keenan (9), Isabella (8) and Eli (3). We brought Isabella home in August of 2009, and Eli home in February 2013. We hope you enjoy our journey as a family of 6!

Aidan

Keenan

Bella

Eli

Our four blessings

Timeline

February 15: Apply to CCAI;
February 16: Apply to FAC (homestudy agency);
May 24: Received Final Homestudy;
May 25: Sent I800A application to USCIS;
July 11: USCIS Approval;
July 20: DTC;
July 24: LID;
August 9: LOI submitted to China, Eli's file locked!!;
August 17: Pre-approval from China;
September 19: Out of Translation;
November 1: LOA;
November 21: USCIS Provisional 800 Approval;
December 18: Article 5 issued;
January 9: Travel Approval!;
January 21: Eli in our arms forever!!